Hydraulic clutch and brake mechanism



Ju'ne18,1940 VJ.HALLER 2,204,589

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nventor \jokf 7/a//er June 18, 1940. J. HALLER unmwuc CLUTCH AND BRAKE MECHANISM Filed March 5,' 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z'mnentor V y flak,

attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC cLU'rcn AND BRAKE MECHANISM John Haller, Detroit, Mich, assignor to J. H. Tool & Machine Works, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 3, 1938, Serial No. 193,730

Claims. (Cl. 192-12) This invention relates in general to hydraulic with a bore l2. The outer end of the bore l2, mechanisms, and in particular to the improved such as at I4, is enlarged for housing an oil seal constru tion of an apparatus of that type which of standard construction and well known in the is adapted for producingthe actions of clutching art, such seal being adapted for preventing outand braking. ward leakage of the oil or hydraulic fluid thereat.

One of the main objects of the invention is The bore |2,is also enlarged, such as at I 6, for to construct an apparatus which is simple both housing a bearing ss b y in h c S a in construction and operation, which i sponis journaled. Riding on shaft 20 in contact taneously effective with a minim m of eflort, with a face of the bearing I8 is a washer 22. which is low in cost of production and consists Shaft 20, to be conside ed as the driven Sha t; or few essential parts, and which is adapted for is Shown at its outer end as being provi d with producing a clutching action or a braking action, one Well known form connection for Said. Shaft whichever i d i d and a machine (not shown) to be driven thereby,

Another object of the invention is to construct but it is Obvious that S connection y take a. simple hydraulically operated apparatus which any desired form, S c as a pulley dr ve 0! any is adapted f r employment intermediate drivform of coupling which permits the transmission ing means and a driven means and through of power therethrough from shaft 20 to said which said driven means can be driven by or machine. The direct driving between shaft 20 disconnected from said driving means, according and the machine to be driven preferred, wt wants of the operator: ever, because of the desirability for immediate Another object of the invention is to build an reaction in the driven machine in accordance mproved for of hydraulic apparatus having with changes in the rotary movements of the iovelly constructed and arranged relatively movshaft lble members between which is adapted t b Keyed to the shaft 20 for rotation therewith, ,stablished a hydrostatiq pressure which tends in slots 24 provided therefor, is a pair of annular 0 look said members together for eliminating F F 28, Said "E being provided he relativity of movement therebetween. v at their inner surfaces with lugs and 32, re-

other objects and advantages of this'invem spectlvely, fitting into the slots 24. The union ion will become readily apparent with reference Y F and Slots is Such as to Prevent o the following specification taken in coniunclongltudmel mono of members 26 and 28 along 3 ion with the accompanying drawings of which shaft E of the members 25 and 28 is here are three (3) sheets and in which: formed at Its Periphery with a plurality 0f Figure l is a. vertical sectional .view taken longmoved passagewaysirepresented on member 25 itudinally through the apparatus which emas at 34 and 9 member 23 as at Said P odies the present invention, and showing the Ways extendlne bliquely across the entire width 35 etails f construction th re f; of the periphery of its respective annular mem- F jg 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along her and so that the direction thereof is neither he lines and respectively of Fig axially nor clrcumferentially, but somewhere Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the rotattherebetweeni Such as at angle, Circum ble member of the clutch; ferential groove being ideal but impractical and 40 Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the driven memaxial groove being p s u al y ineifecer of the clutch, shown in assembly with the We The grooves 34 and 36 a each be right riven shaft, or it can be considered a view of and, y each can be left hand, or the for- Jeof the members of the brake, and mer can be opposite to the latter. The depth, Fig. 6 is a developed view of the two relatively width and number of each-group of grooves are 5 ,ovable members employed in either the clutch immaterial as long as the passageways formed thereby permit sufficient fluid to pass thereinto In Fig.1 there is shown a longitudinal section for establishment therein of the necessary hydrolrough an apparatus adapted for establishing static pressure desired. ld utilizing hydrostatic pressure for producing Adapted for a running fit with the peripheral e actions of clutching and braking for masurfaces of members 26 and '28, is a pair of memlines such as'those employed in factories, mabers 38 and 40, respectively, having annularsurline shops, and the like. The main body memfaces arranged concentrically with respect to said 1 or casting for the apparatus is represented peripheral surfaces of members 26 and 28. Said l0 and is shown as being provided internally surfaces of members 38 and 40 are grooved at 42 and M, respectively, similarly to the grooves 36 and 36, but in crossed relation therewith, as clear- 1y shown in Fig. 6, so that, in assembly, grooves 3d and 32 cross each other as well as grooves it and M3 crossing each other, thereby forming a plurality of individual cubical spaces defined m the one case by the walls of the grooves 361 and lit , readily apparent that member ill and shaft it till tlon.

Plate dd is provided with a bore (it in which can be made separable, that members 38 and it can be made inseparable or as a single casting,

that the relative positions of concentricity of members 28 and it can be reversed, that the relative positionsof concentricity of members 26 and 38 can be reversed, and such' changes in construction are contemplated.

Secured to the body member it for enclosing the structure therein is a dome shaped cover plate it, by means of a plurality of bolts 5b, and lying between the plate is and member it, and held in place thereby, is a separator 52 which is adapted for being disposed between the members 2838 and the members 28-bit for sealing one of said groups of members from the other. Between the shaft it and plate ill is a bearing assembly 5d into which the former is journaleol. The shaft it, to be considered the driving shaft for the apparatus, isiormed similarly as the outer end of driven shaft it, but same can be changed at will. Said end of shaft this adapted to be driven by a motor or other form of continuous driving means (not shown).

To enhance the sealing efiectiveness of separator 52 there is formed therein an annular recess 56 in which is disposed an oil sealsimilar to that used at id in bore i2. Also formed in separator 52, on its opposite faces, is a pair of annular channelled recesses 5d and it, extending radially from the bottom walls of grooves 3d and 36, respectively, to substantially beyond the bottom walls of grooves 62 and it, respectively. Members lb and M are also formed with annular channelled recesses t2 and til, respectively, similar to recesses it and it, but providing communication between the grooves on the grooved members on the opposite sides thereto. It is readily apparent that recesses lit and or can be formed in the opposite faces of members it and 38, rather than in the walls of separator 52 and body member it, as shown, and that the recesses it and 6d can be formed in the opposite faces of members it and ti, rather than in the walls of separator 52 and member dd, as shown, without departing from the spirit of the invenis disposed an oil seal similar to those employed at i l and lit, for preventing oil leakage thereat ,and generally improving the tightness of the and the grooves M therein, a plurality of spaced passageways i l which serve to intercommunicate the annular passageways 5t and til, so that any pressure created ahead of piston lil, bya movement thereof to the left, reacts in'opposing directions within the grooves as and d6, tending to loot: the members 28 and fill together due to the hydrostatic pressure set up in the cubical spaces (see Fig. 6) which are common to the grooves on both members. A short movement of piston Eli toward the left, in a fluid filled system, is sufficient to lock members 28 and it! together, thereby causing shaft 2@, since member idiskeyed thereto, to be driven by and at substantially the same rate of rotation of shaft it of which member it is shown as'being a part, although it is obvious that a shorter movement of the piston will react to give only partial looking, it such is desired,

At the other end of chamber 6%, behind piston lb, is an opening which communicates said chamber with a passageway it in body member it, said passageway it communicating with the annular passageway 62 in member iii. In member 38. between its periphery and the grooves d2 therein, there is provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways it which communicate-the passageway 52 in member ill with the passageway 5b in separator 62. Therefore, when the piston it is moved to the right after the shafts it and it have been caused to rotate together, the pressure set up by such movement is transmitted through the passageway it into the grooves 3d and M in members 2E and 38, respectively, in opposite directions, the hydrostatic pressure set up when these opposing pressures meet causing the rotatable member 28,

which is keyed to shaft 2b, to lock with the fixed member 3b and thereby substantially braking the rotation of the driven shaft Ell. Naturally, the clutching action between the members 28 and it will have ceased when the piston Ed is moved to the right because of the relief in pressure therebetween by such movement of said piston.

For filling the chamber to and the various fluid passageways and grooves ahead of piston ill in the fluid system with fluid there is provided an opening M5 in the top of the body member it, said opening being adapted to be closed by a screw 82. Then, for filling with fluid the pot tions of chamber t8 and the various fluid passageways and grooves in the fluid system lying on the opposite side of piston it there is provided an opening as.

Body member in is provided with an out wardly projecting lug 9b to which is pivotally connected a handle intermediate the ends of handle or, and in slotted engagement there with, is connected the cud of a piston rod 'l, said'piston rod being rigidly secured to piston lb and passing outwardly from chamber 66 through an opening provided therefor in can tl, said end of rod 96 being provided with a pin to which is engageable with handle as in a slot dd provided therein. Intermediate the upper end of handle 92 and the slot at there is pivoted to said handle a pawl mil which is adapted for engagement with a ratchet m2, said ratchet being secured to body member it as by means of a bolt I04, and the opening for said bolt communicating with the filler opening 85. For the purpose of maintaining engagement between the pawl and ratchet, the pawl is provided with a recess in which is housed and secured a spring we, said spring being adapted to act against a ledge I08 formed on the handle 92 for urging the pawl about its pivot toward the ratchet. Since the piston 10 is shown in neutral position (the shaft 20, in other words, being idle), and if clutching action is desired, it. is only necessary to force the handle 92 toward the left about its pivot, this causing the piston 10 and pawl iflO to move forwardly. Thereafter, to apply braking action, it is only necessary to release the pawl from the ratchet I02 by downward pressure on the'pawl at its outer end and then returning the handle 92 to its normal position.

What actually goes on within the grooves of the mated members of either the clutch or the brake, when pressure is applied, can be seen and understood by a reference to Fig. 6. In the first place, the outer and inner members are provided with a running fit; in the second place, the

grooves in the one member are directed oppo-- sitely to the grooves in the other member, thereby forming a series of individual cubical spaces where they cross; and, in the third place, the fluid under pressure is adapted for entering each groove simultaneously at each end, so that the relative motion of the two members in forming these cubical spaces causes the fluid to become locked therewithin and the fluid, being under opposed pressures, instantly and hydrostatically and substantially totally ends the relativity ofmovement between the members. So, in the clutch, the idle member becomes substantially locked to the driving member, and, in the brake, the moving member becomes substantially locked to the fixed member, although in either case the locking may be made only partial, if so desired.

While the invention has been described with some detail, the description is not intended to be definitive of the limits The right is reserved to make such changes and alterations in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will come within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim is:

1.- In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed for a running fit and provided at their confronting surfaces with angularly disposed fluid passageways, and means for directing fluid under pressure through said passageways simultaneously in opposing directions.

2. In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed at their confronting surfaces with passageways extending between and angularly related to the sides of said members, and means for directing fluid under pressure simultaneously in opposing directions through said passageways.

3. In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed for a running fit and provided at their confronting surfaces with a plurality of intercommunicating fluid passageways extending between the opposite faces of each of said members, the length of each of said passageways being substantially greater than the distance between said faces, and means for directing fluid under pressure through said passageways in opposing directins 4. In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed for a running fit and provided at their confronting surfaces with a pluralof the inventive idea.

ity of -grooves, an opening in and through one of said members in spaced relation to said grooves and in communication therewith, and means for directing fluid under pressure through said opening and said grooves so that said pressure will act in opposing directions within said grooves.

5. In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed'for a running fit and provided at their confronting surfaces with a plurality of grooved passageways, said passageways extending obliquely between the opposite faces of said members and the passageways of one member being in crossed relation to the passageways of the other member, and means for directing fluid under pressure into said passageways from each end thereof for causing an increasing amount of interlocking between said members as said pressure is increased. 6. In a hydraulic mechanism, a pair of concentrically disposed relatively movable members, said members being formed for a running fit and provided at their confronting surfaces with a plurality of grooved passageways extending obliquely between the opposite faces of said members, an annular passageway in one of said members for intercommunicating said grooved passageways, an axial passageway in one of said members in communication with said annular passageway, a fluid chamber in communication with said axial passageway, and means in said chamber for impressing fluid pressure through said axial and annular passageways into said grooved passageways for simultaneously impressing said pressure into said grooved passageways in opposing directions.

7. In a clutch, a rotatable shaft having formed thereon for rotation therewith a. member provided with an internally grooved bore, a second shaft to be driven by said first shaft and provided with an externally grooved member, said latter member being adapted for disposal within said bore and having a running fit therewith, the grooves of one of said members being angularly related to the grooves of the other of said members, and'means for creating a hydrostatic pressure within the grooves of said members for locking said members together, the amount of locking being directly proportional to the amount of pressure established.

8. In a brake, a rotatable shaft having formed thereon for rotation therewith an annular member, a rigidly stationary member-concentrically disposed with relation to said first member, said members having a running fit and being formed at their confronting surfaces with grooved passageways directed in the one member at an angle to those in the other member, and means for creating a hydrostatic pressure within said passage- .ways for terminating relative rotation between said members, thereby ending the rotation of said shaft.

9. In a hydraulic mechanism, rotatable driving and driven shafts, a pair of annular members on said driven shaft and rotatable therewith, another pair of members each concentrically arranged with respec-t'to said first members and in running fit therewith, all of said members being obliquely grooved at their confronting surfaces one of said second pair of members being disposed on said driving shaft and rotatable there-' with; the other of said second pair of members being fixedly stationary, and means for creating a hydrostatic'pressure within the grooves of said member on said driving shaft and grooves of its mating member on said driven st for at least reducing the relativity of movement between said last two members, said means being further adapted for creating a hydrostatic pressure within the grooves of said stationary member and the grooves of the other member on said driven shaft for terminating relative rotation between said last two members and thereby stepping the rotation of said driven shaft.

iii. In a hydraulic mechanism, s driving shaft end a driven shaft, a pair of clutch members, one of said clutch members being supported on said driving shaft for rotation therewith and the other of said clutch members being supported on said driven shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of brake members for said driven shaft, oneoi said brake members being fixedly supported on ass sses I i said driven shaft and the other of said brake members being non-rotatebie, said clutch members and said brake members being each formed for a running tit and provided at their confronting surfaces with grooved passageways extending 1 obliquely across said members, and means for establishing a hydrostatic pressure within the passasewsys in said clutch members for at least seducing the relativity of movement between said driven shaft and said driving shaft,.said means being further adapted for establishing a hydrostatie'pressure within the passageways of said brake members for terminating relative rotation between said driven shaft and said noniotatabie member for stopping the rotation of 1 

